A question for anyone that has read the book: To what extent is it substantially documented that Bill Clinton called Obama an “amateur”? I can certainly believe Clinton thinks it and has said it, because it’s true and he’s savvy enough to know it; I’m just wondering how such a thing gets documented. He won’t admit it and I’d be surprised if there are many witnesses who would support the assertion — or are there? That’s always the tricky business with these “he said/she said” situations…what is a hard fact versus what is probably true but you’re not sure you’d want to stake your life on it? This business of plausible deniability matters in the court of public opinion.

Going off topic, but I just wanted to mention this…With respect to that “born in Kenya” book note…First, I agree with Tammy this issue is a distraction, and I accept that Obama was indeed born in Hawaii. But when the “birther” movement cropped up, I was curious where this began? Who started the urban legend? Was it spontaneous and honest, or did someone work behind the scenes to get everyone talking about this point? (There’s a limit to which social phenomena can be controlled, but some people do work in this dark art — Tammy has spoken of such things from her days of leftist organizing.) Anyway, it’s interesting to find out that the legend perhaps had entirely innocent roots. We didn’t start this thing; they (whoever they are) did. And I don’t mean it in a sinister way; rather it was just a “cool” thing. Wow, a real African at Harvard! And later this came back to bite them, although nobody remembered where it started. I bet that’s how we got here.

I think part of the reason the “birther” thing appeals is that, regardless of its literary truth, it conveys a dramatic truth. Obama has the mind of a foreigner. He doesn’t understand Americans. And I think he got this way because he spent his formative years outside America. That’s why he can, for example, get the number of states wrong. Just like you might get the number of Mexican states wrong. The problem with Obama isn’t his birth, it’s his afterbirth.

I really should get the book on Amazon. But it’s just so much fun to get Conservative books at the Barnes and Noble on the Upper West Side of Manhattan; The clerks’ looks of horror/contempt/self-righteous indignation are priceless…. And the check-out clerk always spits out: “Do you want a bag with *that*?” I am always tempted to respond: “No bag. I’ll just walk out of the store, holding the book, so your security people can grab me and arrest me for shoplifting.” Instead, I smile, and tell them a bag would be soooo appreciated.

I’ve heard Klein interviewed by others, but never wanted to get the book. But Tammy’s interview was superb, and now I really want to get a copy. Brava, Tammy 🙂